We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Secretariat resigns after 'Lettergate' scandal
FREE Catholic Classes
On Wednesday Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Msgr. Dario Edoardo Vigano as prefect of the Secretariat for Communications in wake of what has been dubbed by many as the 'Lettergate' scandal, which has dominated Catholic media the past week.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
3/21/2018 (6 years ago)
Published in Europe
Keywords: Catholic News, Pope Francis, Secretariat for Communications
Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) - The announcement was made in a March 21 statement from Vatican spokesman Greg Burke, who said said Msgr. Lucio Adrián Ruiz, secretary of the Vatican communications office, will take charge until a new prefect is named.
In his letter submitting his resignation, which was dated March 19 and published March 21 alongside Francis' response, Vigano said that recent days "many controversies have arisen regarding my work which, beyond intentions, destabilizes the complex and great task of reform which you entrusted to me."
He thanked the Pope for his accompaniment and generosity, and for the sake of avoiding the "delay" of the reform and for "love of the Church," he tenured his resignation.
In his letter of response, dated March 21, Francis said that after speaking with Vigano and after a "long and attentive reflection," he accepted the prefect's resignation.
He thanked Vigano for his service, and offered his blessing, asking that he stay on in the secretariat in a different, more advisory capacity.
The fiasco began last week after the Monday, March 12, launch of the 11-book series "The Theology of Pope Francis," published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the Vatican publishing house overseen by the Vatican's Secretariat for Communications.
A letter from Benedict XVI praising Francis' theological and philosophical formation was read aloud at the event, however, the Vatican's Secretariat for Communications later admitted to tampering with an image of the letter that was sent to media, blurring out lines in which Benedict said that he had not read the full series, and so could not give an in-depth analysis.
Days later another twist was added to the scandal when it was revealed that further paragraphs had been left out in which Benedict questioned the inclusion in the series of a theologian known for his "anti-papal initiatives."
After receiving pressure from the media, the Secretariat for Communications published the full letter March 17, which they said was confidential and never intended to be published in its entirety.
Msgr. Vigano was tapped to head the secretariat for communications in 2015 with a mandate to reform and streamline the Vatican's various communications entities. The recent scandal surrounding the letter has been likened by reporters to the first "Vatileaks" scandal in 2012, when Benedict XVI's personal butler leaked some of his private letters to the press.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Discalced Carmelites ask for Edith Stein to be declared 'Doctor of Truth'
-
Cinco de Mayo - What is the day really about?
-
Cinco de Mayo, the Fifth of May: A Day to Celebrate Heritage and History
-
Edith Stein: Could she be the next Doctor of the Church?
-
Chaplain Reveals Unrest at Columbia University Caused by Communists
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Tuesday, May 07, 2024
- St. Rose Venerini: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, May 07, 2024
- Blessing of a New House: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, May 07, 2024
- Daily Readings for Monday, May 06, 2024
- St. Dominic Savio: Saint of the Day for Monday, May 06, 2024
- Nurse's Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Monday, May 06, 2024
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.